Clasp



Patented Apr. l5, 1926.

entre.

HERMAN GELB, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP.

To all whom t may cof/wem.'

Be it known that I, HERMAN GELB, a citizen of the United States, residing in city of New York, county of Bronx, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps particularly adapted for adjustably holding the ribbon of a wrist watch or a jeweled bracelet or the like on the wrist of the wearer.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following .specification when read in connection with the accompanying dra-wings and the novel features will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings. Fig. 1 illustrates my improved clasp applied to the bracelet ribbon of a wrist watch;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of one member of the clasp which is adapted to slidingly engage a ribbon or bracelet;

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of a catch member adapted to be secured to the end of a ribbon or flexible bracelet;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing a spring lock member which forms. part of the clasp member` illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the clasp member shown ki'n Fig. 3, the lock member of Fig. 5 being omitted; p

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective illustrating the clasp as it appears before the dif* ferent members have been fastened or locked in engagement.

Referring to the embodiment, illustrated, a flexible strip or ribbon 10 is secured at one end to an eyelet 12 carried by the wrist watch 14.y The ribbon10 is reeved through a member 16 in such a way that this member slidingly engages the ribbon and means are provided for clamping said member 16 in any desired position of adjustment on the ribbon. A catch 18 is secured to the free end 20 of thel ribbon and means are provided whereby the catch can be engaged with and locked to the member 16. The ribbon is also reeved through an eyelet 22 carried by the watch 14 and it will be understood that by moving the member 16 to various positions on the ribbon and fastening the catch 18, the ribbon Vcan be adjusted so as to tthe wrist of the par Application led February 28, 1923. Serial No. 621,749.

ticular wearer. It will be understood that by inserting the hand through the Opening 25 and by drawing the free end 2O of the ribbon, that the latter will ride through the eyelet 22 so as to tighten said ribbon on the Wrist of the wearer. Then by moving the member 16 to the proper position so as to take up the slack between the eyelet 22 and the catch 18. the latter can be engaged with the member 16 so as to secure the ribbon somewhat snugly to the wrist.

The member 16 comprises a pair of parallel fiat bottom portions 24 and 26, an intermediate bridge portion 28 and side Hanges 30 and 32. The bridge portion 28 is 1ocated above the plane of the plate portions 24 and 26 and forms a cross wall below which the ribbon 10passes. AsI shown in Fig. 2, the ribbon is reeved through the slot 36 formed by the upper surface of the portions 24 and 26 and the under surface of the bridge piece 28. y

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a resilient locking member 38 is secured by rivets 40 to the bridge piece 28. This locking member is formed with spring fingers 42, the ends 44 of which are guided in slots/46 formed in the fianges 30 and 32 of the member 16. The locking 'member 38 is slotted as at 48 to form a cross member o-r pintle 50 which is adapted to co-operateY with the catch as hereinafter'described.

The catch' 18 is slotted at 52 -to form ay convenient and neat means for fastening the end 20 of the ribbon thereto.. To the underside of the catch is secured or formed integral therewith a. hook 54 which is adapted to pivotally engage the pintle of the sliding member 16. Secured kto or formed on the underside of the forward portion of the catch are a pair of downwardly eX- tending prongs 56 which are slightly relieved or cut away as at 58 to form a shoulder which is adapted to engage the spring fingers v42 of the locking member so as to hold the catch in lockedV engagement with the .sliding member 16.` The ends of vthe prongs 56 are tapered or pointed as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and the apeXes of the prongs are rounded off as at 60.

A the plate 24 in such position that they align with the prongs 56 when the catch is in locked position. The length of the prongs is .such that when the catch is fastened the prongs force' portions of the ribbon into pair of apertures 62 are formed in t-he apertures 62 and thereby effectively clamp the clasp to the ribbon so that the same will not become loosened. Grosgrain ribbon or other ribbed fabric is frequently used for bracelet watches, and the ribs 64- of such ribbon afford convenient means for engagement with the prongs 56 of the catch as will be appreciated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved clasp provides means whereby the sliding member can be securely held or clamped in position when the catch is closed. The spring fingers 42 co-operate with the prongs 56 to hold the catch in closed position and the ends of these prongs engage the ribbon so as to effectively clamp the member 16 thereto, hence the prongs serve a double function. The spacing of the cross member 28 and the plate portions 24 and 26 of the sliding member may be such that the ribbon will be sligtlily kinked in passing through the slot 36 so as to secure a good grip or bite thereon. In any event the ribbon will very snugly fit this member. And in the event of the catch 18 being inadvertently moved so as to disengage the prongs from the spring lingers 42, the ribbon will not be loosened because the hook 54 will still engage the pintle 50. This hook is so formed that the catch must be turned almost ninety degrees in order to free it from the pintle without pulling up considerable slack from the free end of the ribbon.

I have shown and described the catch as applied to the bracelet ribbon of a wrist watch, but it is to be understood that the clasp may be used for fastening various liexible strips and is well adapted for use on jewelled bracelets, ribbons for holding jew.- elry and in general for many uses usually requiring a fastening device in the nature of a buckle or spring clasp.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail certain embodiments of my invention, yet it is not to be understood that the invention is restricted to the particular embodiments disclosed. Various modification thereof in detail and in the arrangement of the parts may be made without departure from the invention as Vdefined in the following claims.

l. A clasp comprisinga member adapted to slidingly engage a fieXiblel strip, a catch secured to an end of said strip and yielding means secured to said slidable member for holding the catch in engagement therewith.

2. A clasp comprising a member having a ribbon reeved therethrough, a catch secured to an end of said ribbon and resilient locking element secured to said member for holding the catch in engagement therewith.

3. A clasp `comprising' a member adapted to slidingly engage a flexible strip, a catch detachably pivoted to said member, and

means including prongs on the catch for yieldingly holding the catch in engagement with said member and for clamping the slidable member to said flexible strip.

4. A clasp comprising a member having a ribbon reeved therethrough, a catch Secured to an end of said ribbon having locking prongs adapted to engage the ribbon and Clamp it to said member', and a spring carried by said member adapted to engage said prongs.

5. A clasp of the class described including a member carrying a spring lock, a catch detachably pivoted to said member having prongs adapted to engage said spring loclr.

6. A clasp of the cla-ss described comprising an apertured member slidably mounted on a ribbon, a resilient locking element secured to said member, a catch det-achably pivoted to said member and having means co-acting with the apertures in said member for clamping the ribbon to said member` 7. A clasp of the class described comprising` a member adapted to have a. ribbon reeved therethroughi a resilient locking element secured to said member, a catch detachably secured to said member and having prongs which engage said locking elementk and also serve to clamp the ribbon to said member.

8. A clasp of the class described comprising a member adapted to have a ribbon reeved therethrough, a locking element and a pintle forming part of said member, a catch secured to an end of the ribbon having a portion adapted to be hooked over said pintle and having a notched prong adapted to be engaged by said locking element.

9. A device for securing a wrist watch to the wrist of a wearer comprising a ribbon secured to the watch at one end and having a catch secured at its free end, a clasp member, the said ribbon being reeved through an eye. of the watch and through the clasp member` and means for detachably pivoting the catch to the clasp member and a. spring lock for engaging said catch when it is rocked on its pivot.

10. A device for securing a wrist watch to the wrist of a wearer comprising a ribbon secured to the watch at one end and having a catch secured at its free end, a clasp member, the said ribbon being reeved through an eye of the watch and through the clasp member and means for clamping the clasp to the ribbon when the catch is locked in enagement with the clasp member, said clasp having a spring lock secured thereto, and said catch being detachably pivoted to said clasp and having prongs arranged for engaging said spring lock and for forcing the ribbon into apertures formed in said clasp.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HERMAN GELB. 

